Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum - CAUSAL AGENT OF SOFT ROT OF PEPPERS PRODUCED IN THE STRUMICA REGION

Abstract

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (formerly Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora) is a plant pathogen that causes soft and stem rot diseases in several economically important vegetables such as carrot, cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, onion, pepper, potato, radish, sweet potato, squash and tomato, where the disease can be detected in the field, transmit, storage and market.

Agricultural producers face many challenges in trying to grow crops and ensure stable, high-quality yields. The risk factors involved in agricultural production include climatic conditions, the occurrence of diseases, pests, and weeds. During our field observation, we examined the production of pepper, its economic and nutritional value, and the factors contributing to its decline.

Our primary focus is the present status of diseases in pepper, specifically the occurrence of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, the causative agent of bacterial soft rot. P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum is a well-known plant pathogen that causes severe soft rot disease in various crops, resulting in significant economic loss.

The aim of this study is to highlight the economic importance of the bacterial agent responsible for soft rot in peppers grown in the open fields in Strumica region. For this purpose, standard bacteriological tests were performed. These tests confirmed the pathogenic, morphological, biochemical, physiological, and growth properties of the pathogen, compared with the control strain KFB85 from the Republic of Serbia.